Cats/nail caps

QuestionQUESTION: Can you tell me about the nail caps for cats? Do I put them on or does the vet?
How long do they stay on for? And how does the kitty scratch her claws in the meantime?

I have a calico kitty that will not stop scratching the furniture. She is about 5 yrs old and I have tried all kinds of cat scratchers. I even put cat nip on them and it only seems to work for a little while. She keeps going back to my furniture!

ANSWER: Joyce,

Nail caps are called "Soft Paws". They are soft plastic caps that slide over the existing nail and are attached by using a glue something like "superglue". They do not last super, super long and, if your cat does not like her feet messed with, can be a pain to put on (I would use two people). If the cat is going to fight you on thus, you might talk to your veterinarian.

The best scratching posts are pretty good sized so that the cat can stretch the entire length of its body + hind legs + front legs to scratch. I like a vertical post made with a 4 X 4 piece of lumber mounted on a fairly large base so the kitty cannot knock it over. The post should be covered with a closed loop carpet and/or sisal rope so the material pulls back when the cat scratches.

If there are shelves or covey holes, all the better.

I have found if you buy a cat nip or honeysuckle spray and spray the post, the cat will tend to be more prone to use it. If the post is tall enough, so the cat can look down at you from a shelf, so much the better.

Good scratching posts are not cheap in a pet store, but, if you go to a cat show, you can get a pretty nice one for cheap. You can check out www.cfa.org to find a cat show near you.

Best regards... Norm.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: How long do they stay on for? Can the cat scratch her nails in the meantime? What if she were to get out? Its happened before that she sneaks a peek at the outside world.

AnswerJoyce,

How long the "nail caps" may stay on depends on how well they were put on to begin with and how persistent the cat may be in trying to removes them. So, it is difficult to speculate.

As to your other question, claws are a major defense against attack that the cat has. Rendering these useless or less effective would compromise the cat's ability to defend herself in the wild, if need be!!!!

The only saving grace for this product is that it may avoid declawing.

Best regards... Norm.

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Comment

Well, I certainly don't want to declaw her and in case she skips out on me sometime I want her to be able to defend herself.. so I guess I just hope she learns that my furniture is not a scratching post.

Norman Auspitz

Expertise

I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.

Experience

I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.

PublicationsCat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook

Education/CredentialsI received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.

Awards and HonorsWe have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.